Wrexham Evening Leader

Relief for Reds as Robbie comes to the rescue

12/12/05

Robbie FoyROBBIE FOY struck to earn Wrexham a point – but they should never have been in any danger of leaving The Racecourse pointless.

The on-loan Liverpool striker, who had been struggling all of last week with flu, came off the substitutes’ bench to score a dramatic injury time equaliser.

Three minutes of added on time were on the clock when the Scottish under 21 international converted his third goal in Wrexham colours.

But Wrexham should really have killed the game off during an opening 45 minutes which they dominated.

The Reds produced some flowing football but just could not score the goal to take them in at the break well placed and with the advantage of the wind in the second period.

Jon Walters did open the deadlock early in the first half but his goal was ruled out for an earlier offence.

The Reds continued to pressurise early in the second half but began to lose their way as impatience sat in.

Not helped by a time-wasting County side who were intent on running down theclock – sometimes far to early in the game – Wrexham just could not make the breakthrough.

UPBEAT

And when County took the lead five minutes from time, the Reds looked to have lost their second home match of the season.

But Foy saved the day and it leaves Wrexham in upbeat mood ahead of a tricky and busy hectic festive period.

And Wrexham’s next four fixtures, against Carlisle United, Rochdale, Chester City and Grimsby, are all against teams above Denis Smith’s side in the table.

Though handily placed in eighth spot, the Reds will need to take their chances in the coming matches, but at least Smith will be boosted by the return of a number of players who are back from injury.

The starting 11 that had triumphed 4-1 against Mansfield Town at The Racecourse in midweek continued as Smith was given the rare luxury of naming an unchanged side for the visit of County.

The only change to the squad was Foy taking Simon Spender’s place on the substitutes bench – and how happy the Reds’ boss was to see the striker back.

After Mark Debolla had brought an early save out of Michael Ingham, and Danny Williams, continuing in the back three, had made some important interceptions, all the action was at the other end.

And Walters looked to have put the Reds ahead on six minutes, but referee Neil Swarbrick adjudged the striker to have unfairly challenged County’s Julian Baudet before firing low past Kevin Pilkington.

Wrexham continued to lay siege to the County goal, Mark Jones’ high ball into the area was not cleared and the ball fell for the in-form Lee McEvilly but his shot from six yards out was well saved by Pilkington.

The next Wrexham chance fell to Dave Bayliss, but his looping header from Matty Crowell’s corner on 17 minutes was cleared off the line by Rob Ullathorne.

But the Reds failed to build on that impressive start and were indebted to Ingham for keeping the score goal-less, the Northern Ireland international spreading himself well to deny Debolla who raced clear down the right flank on 33 minutes.

But Wrexham almost took the lead two minutes later when Walters raced onto skipper Darren Ferguson’s long ball before cutting inside and his rocket shot from outside the area was heading for the top corner until Kevin Wilson’s lunging header kept the sides level.

Dennis Lawrence, struggling with a stomach problem after heading clear, wasreplaced one minute before the break by youngster Mike Williams who again showed great composure.

Wrexham continued where they had left off at the start of the second half and twice went close.

McEvilly beat keeper Pilkington to Alex Smith’s teasing cross but the ball didn’t have enough power to give his side the lead, and then Walters played in Ferguson but the skipper’s deflected shot fell narrowly wide of the mark.

McEvilly also found the side netting on the hour mark, Pilkington saved Crowell’s deflected effort, and Bayliss was also denied by the County keeper.

Although Wrexham were not at their best they were creating chances, and County were content to try their luck on the break.

And as the Reds began to show signs of impatience, County sprang forward and Ingham was forced to run out of his area and beat substitute Andy White to the ball with a last gasp clearance.

But from the resulting throw-in, which Wrexham failed to clear, County took the lead.

There was only five minutes remaining when the ball found another County substitute, Jake Sheridan, and his looping header looked to have given the visitors an unexpected three points.

Foy was immediately thrown on by manager Smith and almost immediately saw Pilkington parry his drive from the edge of the area.

Referee Swarbrick, quite rightly, decided there would be four minutes of injury time and there was only 60 seconds remaining when Foy grabbed the equaliser following a fantastic move in which McEvilly and Walters combined to split the County defence and put Foy clear for the striker to run in on goal before coolly slotting past Pilkington.

WREXHAM: Ingham, Bayliss, Danny Williams, Lawrence (Mike Williams 44), Roche, Crowell (Foy 85), Ferguson, Mark Jones, Smith (Bennett 72), Walters,McEvilly. Subs not used: Warhurst, Michael Jones.

NOTTS COUNTY: Pilkington, Pipe, Edwards, Baudet, Hurst (Sheridan 46),Ullathorne, Friars, Wilson, Needham, McMahon, Debolla (White 64). Subs notused: Palmer, Long, Marshall.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Attendance: 4,726.